Smoke ban threat to shisha cafes

Shisha is popular among London's Middle Eastern community

The smoking ban which comes into force in July could drive shisha cafes out of business, traders have warned.

Cafe owners in Edgware Road, west London, are campaigning for the popular Middle Eastern tobacco pipe to be exempt from the new legislation.

Cafe owner Ibrahim El-Nour said shisha contained "small amounts of tobacco" and was less harmful than cigarettes.

However health experts said shisha smoking was just as hazardous as smoking cigarattes.

'Begrudging acceptance'

Mr El-Nour, of the Edgware Road Association, said the shisha cafes fulfilled an important social role for the Middle Eastern community.

"Shisha smoking is a social activity enjoyed by different age groups in social gatherings and a happy environment," he said.

"By driving shisha cafes out of business and causing their closures, the government is showing disregard to the whole community."

Westminster Council which has been advising businesses most likely to be affected by the ban said shisha was not the cafes' only source of income.

Using a waterpipe to smoke tobacco poses a serious potential health hazard to smokers and others from the smoke emitted World Health Organisation

"The majority of them serve food and shisha is a profitable add-on," said Councillor Audrey Lewis.

"The general view from businesses there is one of begrudging acceptance.

"Once the ban comes into force most of the cafes will concentrate on the restaurant business."

A report by the World Health Organisation (WHO), which was consulted for the legislation, said shisha should be included in any ban.

"Using a waterpipe to smoke tobacco poses a serious potential health hazard to smokers and others from the smoke emitted," the report said.

A Department of Health (DoH) spokesman said: "Smoking shisha pipes will be treated in exactly the same way as smoking cigarettes.

"This means any smoking in a workplace or public place has to be outside...as defined in the legislation."